U.S. Attorney announces election day presence

Written by Tunica Times
Friday, 02 November 2012 15:51

United States Attorney Felicia C. Adams announced today that Assistant United StatesAttorney (AUSA) Robert W. Coleman, II will lead the efforts of her Office in connection with theJustice Department’s nationwide Election Day Program for the upcoming November 6, 2012,general elections. AUSA Robert W. Coleman, II has been appointed to serve as the DistrictElection Officer (DEO) for the Northern District of Mississippi and in that capacity is responsiblefor overseeing the District’s handling of complaints of election fraud and voting rights abuses inconsultation with Justice Department Headquarters in Washington.United States Attorney Adams said, “Every citizen must be able to vote withoutinterference or discrimination and to have that vote counted without it being stolen because offraud. The Department of Justice will act promptly and aggressively to protect the integrity of theelection process.”The Department of Justice has an important role in deterring election fraud anddiscrimination at the polls, and combating these violations whenever and wherever they occur.This Department’s long-standing Election Day Program furthers these goals, and also seeks toensure public confidence in the integrity of the election process by providing local points ofcontact within the Department for the public to report possible election fraud and voting rightsviolations while the polls are open on Election Day.Federal law protects against such crimes as intimidating or bribing voters, buying andselling votes, altering vote tallies, stuffing ballot boxes, and marking ballots for voters against theirwishes or without their input. It also contains special protections for the rights of voters andprovides that they can vote free from acts that intimidate or harass them. For example, actions ofpersons designed to interrupt or intimidate voters at polling places by questioning or challengingthem or by photographing or videotaping them, under the pretext that these are actions to uncoverillegal voting may violate federal voting rights law. Further, federal law protects the right ofvoters to mark their own ballot or to be assisted by a person of their choice.The franchise is the cornerstone of American democracy. We all must ensure that thosewho are entitled to the franchise exercise it if they choose, and that those who seek to corrupt it arebrought to justice. In order to respond to complaints of election fraud or voting rights abuses onNovember 6, 2012, and to ensure that such complaints are directed to the appropriate authorities,United States Attorney Adams stated that AUSA/DEO Robert Coleman will be on duty in thisDistrict while the polls are open. He can be reached by the public at the following telephonenumber: (662) 234-3351.In addition, the FBI will have special agents available in each field office and residentagency throughout the country to receive allegations of election fraud and other election abuses onElection Day. The local FBI can be reached by the public at (662) 234-1713.Complaints about ballot access problems or discrimination can be made directly to theCivil Rights Division’s Voting Section in Washington at 1-800-253-3931 or (202) 307-2767.United States Attorney Adams said, “Ensuring free and fair elections depends in large parton the cooperation of the American electorate. It is imperative that those who have specificinformation about discrimination or election fraud make that information available immediately tomy Office, the FBI or the Civil Rights Division.”